To Earthland...And Beyond! (Job/Solo)

A distinct, loud whistle sounded throughout Hargeon as the local train pulled into the station. It was rather busy today, moreso than usual. And this fact was evident by the large number of businessmen and women all going about their business and all seemingly in a rush to get somewhere. But it wasn't just them! People and even entire families from all walks of life congregated to the port town on this day. Something big was happening today...but what could it be?

As the doors to the train opened, waves of people emerged and added to clamor of the already bustling station. Yes it would seem that one would have a rather hard time of things today if they were simply trying to get in and out of the town...and wouldn't you know it?

That's exactly what two Mages from Fairy Tail had planned on doing.

A hand emerged from the train, followed by a small body, followed by...a walking cat? No not like regular cats you idiot! This one was walking on two feet, and it had the cutest little knapsack on its back. And- "So this is Hargeon, huh?" ...it could talk?! And it wasn't just thinking out loud either. The cat was speaking to his traveling companion, who at the moment was staring off into the distance, seemingly lost in thought. He was a young boy, about fourteen or so and dressed in simple clothing. A black t-shirt, jeans, and a pair of sandals he had owned for as long as he could remember. His hair was black and spiky with a distinct blue hue to it, and a single bang hung down over his eye on the left side of his face. And speaking of his face...the expression it carried was completely uncharacteristic of him.

Something was wrong.

"I didn't feel sick at all...not even a little bit." spoke the lad, at last. Melancholy would best describe his tone. His eyes never wavered from their position, but his feline friend could tell he wasn't even looking at anything in particular. He was off in his own little world. The cat frowned (Lucky was his name), his friend's sadness extending to him. Nobody at the Guild had ever seen him like this, but Lucky knew all too well this side of the boy. "Blue..."

So the pair began their walk.

Blue dragging his sandals halfheartedly along the ground with his hands in his pockets and his head lowered. Lucky followed close behind, a worried look present on his face the entire time. "Y'know...being down about it won't make you feel any better." Though a genuine attempt at making him feel better, it was for naught. "I know." retorted the boy, not even bothering to look back. His feline companion furrowed his brow and scratched his head, racking his brain fruitlessly for answers to this problem. Lucky knew how hard it was to pull Blue out of one of his funks, and this one was going to be worse than all the rest. "Did Glacieyth mention anything about this when he taught you?" asked Lucky. "No." came his response, monotonous and short. The cat lowered his head in turn, still trying to cook up a way to make Blue feel better. "Oh Blue...I hate it when you get like this..."

Eventually, and much more slowly than originally anticipated, the two reached their destination. The Docks! But getting anywhere near their objective was another story entirely...

"Why can't our heroes get to where they need to be?" you ask? Well because an enormous line was right in front of the kiosk that issued the passports they needed of course! But seriously, the length of this thing was ridiculous. There must've been a thousand people, easy. Lucky wrinkled his nose and frowned. If they waited in line this was going to take hours! Luckily the duo had something on their side that few people did...flight! "I can get us to the front with Aera, we can grab ours, and then split! This'll be easy don'tcha think?" the cat spoke to his companion, a mischievous grin wide on his face as he did so. But when he turned to look...Blue was already in line. Lucky gave a huge sigh and hunched his shoulders. Not only was this Blue sad all the time, but he was no fun either! "This is the worse its ever been..."


Did I mention this line was long? Because it was long. The two were still waiting and it seemed like they'd be waiting forever. Whoever was handing these things out was either really slow, or really dumb...or both! Lucky sighed once more and shot a glance upwards at his friend. Blue still had that defeated look on his face. "I heard some people talking earlier, Blue. There's a Magic shop in Hargeon!" but the boy's expression didn't change. He didn't even blink. "...they might...y'know...have books on really cool secret Magic you could learn?" the line shifted forward a few steps, and so did Blue. He just remained silent, the Exceed's words seemingly falling on deaf ears. But this wasn't going to deter him! Lucky snapped his fingers (or made a snapping motion with one of his paws anyway...), remembering something that should've been obvious. "Or you could talk to Heero! Or Krow! Or even that one Earth guy! One of them has to know something about this." Lucky was smiling now. He was on to something! Surely one of the other Dragon Slayers had some answers for him! "A Dragon would know how to cure another Dragon, right?" And then, for the first time in what seemed like ages, Blue spoke. And the words that came out of his mouth hit Lucky in a way he didn't know was possible. It was in that instant, that the Exceed finally felt the full weight of what his friend was going through. And he truly, truly realized just how much everything had changed...

"...I'm not a Dragon anymore."

"Next..." came a weak shout from the kiosk worker, an old man whose eyes seemed to be perpetually closed. Finally, after hours of waiting, it was their turn. Blue stepped up to front of the desk, the same glossed-over look in his eye from before and Lucky followed suit. "We need two passports." the boy spoke, looking more past the man at the kiosk than at him. The worker leaned forward and managed to open his eyes slightly. He moved his head from side to side. It seemed like...he was looking for something? "Two...? B-but I only see...one of you, boy..." Time did not do this guy any favors. His manner of speaking was long and drawn out...it was no wonder this took so damn long!

Regardless, Blue wasn't in any mood to be annoyed. He wasn't in  any mood to be anything, honestly. Even his usual trigger (pointing out his height) wasn't enough to get a rise out of him today. He merely gestured with his head towards his left, which prompted Lucky to hop up and onto the tabletop. He held up a paw with two pads out, in the shape of a peace sign. "Two please!~" but the old man didn't even react. Instead he turned his gaze on Blue once more. "W-we don't issue....passports to pets..." he reasoned...but that didn't make any sense! To the young Mage anyway. "He's my friend. Not a pet." came his response without missing a beat. The geezer made an 'O' shape with his mouth and began filling out the paperwork immediately. "...well i-in that case..."

Hours later and they were on their way back to Magnolia. The duo had managed to catch the train just in time and were now the proud owners of two fancy new passports. Now they could take on missions in other nations! Well...when they got a little stronger, anyhow. Blue could've cared less though. A hand rested on his chin as he stared out the window. He had too many things on his mind to be excited over a booklet with some papers in it. Lucky on the other hand? A half-cute-half-menacing scowl was on his face. His friend had been like this too long. He'd had enough. The mostly-black Exceed jumped up onto Blue's seat, and then onto his lap. This prompted a head turn from the boy, and when he did?

SLAP!

Well...more like...PAW! And it didn't really hurt too much. But he pulled back and did it again, and again, angrily smacking at Blue's cheek. "Cut it out, Luck." but Lucky kept right on going. The boy was about to pull his face away from all of the cat's batting when he noticed something. Liquid was welling in the corners of Lucky's eyes. "Just because you can't use Dragon Slayer Magic anymore doesn't mean you have to give up, you idiot!" Blue's eyes widened, the most expressive he'd been all day. Tears rolled down the feline's cheeks now, he couldn't contain it any longer. "There's lots of other Magic out there! You can learn something better and be even stronger than before, I know you can! You're smart enough Blue!' and for the first time that day, the lad's facial expression lightened up. It wasn't much, but it was a start. Lucky was still pawing halfheartedly at his friend's face, crying like a baby all the while. "...so quit being sad...okay?" The Exceed had run out of anger already. And before he could even take his paw away from Blue's face, a hand came to rest on top of his head. Lucky looked up at his friend's face and found the familiar warm smile on his face. Not the cocky one he knew so well. Or the mischievous grin Blue so often wore before. But a warm, genuine smile. He nodded at his friend. "Sure thing, buddy."